China expresses worry over Japan's military and security moves

China is seriously concerned over Japan's recent military and security moves, Foreign Ministry Lin Jian said on Friday, urging Japan to stay committed to peaceful development.

According to reports, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoided on Tuesday to explicitly state whether her cabinet will stay committed to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

The principles Japan issued in 1967 say the country does not possess, build or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons.

In the meantime, other Japanese senior officials have said recently that Japan does not rule out the option of introducing nuclear-powered submarines.

These developments mark Japan's "major and negative policy shift," and sends dangerous signals to the world, Lin said at a regular news conference.

Japanese imperialism waged war of aggression during World War II, committing serious crimes against humanity, Lin added.

In recent years, Japan has sharply readjusted its security policies by increasing defense budget year by year, loosening export control on weapons, and seeking to develop offensive weapons, he said.

Lin also recalled Takaichi's remarks at a parliamentary committee session around a week ago implying Japan's potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.

All these moves have left Japan's neighboring countries and the world in great doubt and worries of whether Japan has made a clear break from militarism, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan, Lin urged Japan to reflect on its history of aggression and stick to the path of peaceful development.

"(Japan should) stop making excuses for its military buildup, and take concrete actions to earn trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community," he said.